This band is cult and I have to admit that the name was known to me, but not their music (shame on me). In 1986 they released an album called 'Metal from Hell", but that didn't get my interest back then. The vocalist on that first album is Harry Conklin (Jag panzer, Titan Force). After that album the band went on a break to return in 1999, but with L.C.F. Eli Elixer on vocals and with him the band released a few more albums. On this new double album Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin is back as singer (he rejoined the band in 2010) and with success. His typical aggressive power metal voice sticks to the music, but besides that he grunts and growls also.
The music is a mix of U.S. power metal with black and thrash, some slower doom parts every now and then and on top of that a portion of King Diamond influences. First I thought that 13 songs in a row would be too much, but I was wrong. Each song is different and in every song I hear something that makes it interesting. Maybe the album will not land after the first spin, but with every next listen it opens its beauty. All the influences mixed together made this a very dark and kind of occult album, which is true metal from start to finish and I think that fans of a lot of different genres will like it. It doesn't matter if you like old Sanctuary, King Diamond, Jag Panzer, Iced Earth, Iron Maiden (just listen to "Descending in the Shadow of Osiris") U.S. power metal, old school thrash or black metal, there is something for all. Mixing thrash, power metal, black and even some doom like for example in "As the Dead, They Sleep" (hello Candlemass) isn't an easy job, but when you are able to write songs like this band does, it all sounds so logical.
After the first spin I had some doubts, but now that I have listened to the entire album several times I hear the beauty and the class of the band. It is difficult for me to say which of the two parts is best, therefore the rating is the same.
